Kosher diet — sources, health benefits at NaturalPedia.com

The kosher diet is the traditional diet followed by practitioners of the Jewish religion. The word “kosher” is taken from the Ashkenazi pronunciation of “kasher”, a Hebrew term that means “fit.” This diet is based on the kashrut, a set of Jewish religious dietary laws derived from the Torah’s Books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy.

These laws specify certain foods that can and cannot be included in the kosher diet, and details the requirements needed for the preparation and serving of kosher food. For example, the birds and mammals allowable under the kashrut must be slaughtered in accordance with the shechita. This process involves using a specialized knife known as a chalaf to quickly sever the trachea and esophagus of the animal as it’s lying on its back (shechita munachat) or standing (shechita me-umedet). As is dictated by law, shechita is typically performed by a highly trained shochet, or person officially certified as competent to kill poultry and cattle under Jewish dietary laws.

Benefits of the kosher diet

The kosher diet can be considered healthy to a certain degree. According to DrWeil.com, the production and certification of kosher foods calls for adhering to a strict set of rules that, among other things, necessitates rigorous inspection and monitoring. One example cited was that the kashrut prohibits the consumption of insects, meaning that all vegetables, fruits, and grains must undergo thorough washing and checking before being packaged.

In addition, it’s believed that bacterial outbreaks are less likely to occur in kosher facilities. Vicky Tobianah of FoodForBetterHealth.com notes that this is “true, as well.” Prior to being slaughtered, all animals must be examined by an authority to see if they have any wounds or signs of disease. Kosher meat is also salted before being sold, further reducing the chances of bacterial proliferation.

From a nutritional standpoint, however, the kosher diet doesn’t have much else to offer. Kosher foods are safer but not necessarily better for one’s health. Moreover, they tend to be more expensive than most regular foods.

Nonetheless, vegans and people with food allergies or intolerances can benefit from the kosher diet. The labeling process that goes into the preparation of kosher foods makes it easier to know what exactly was done with the food (e.g. if it came into contact with equipment used for meats or dairy products).

Food items typically found in the kosher diet

Meat — All meat and fowl, as well as their byproducts, fall under this classification. Kosher meats must come from animals possess split hooves and chew cud (e.g. sheep, goats, and cows), while kosher fowl usually include domesticated birds (e.g. chickens, ducks, and turkeys). Before cooking, the usable portions of kosher and fowl must be drained of blood.

Dairy — This category encompasses all foods that are derived from or contain milk, such as butter, cheese, and yogurt. Kosher dairy must come from a kosher and must be free of meat derivatives (e.g. gelatin and rennet).

Pareve — All other foods are considered pareve, including but not limited to fish, vegetables, pasta, and tea. As with meat and dairy, pareve foods must follow a number of laws in order to be considered kosher. For instance, eggs should be free of blood spots, while vegetables and fruits should be checked for insects and larvae as these aren’t kosher. As for wine, this drink is only kosher if it was produced exclusively by Jews who observe the Torah.

Moreover, the utensils and equipment utilized in the production and preparation of kosher foods must also be kosher. This means that utensils and equipment become kosher for the type of food they prepare (e.g. pans used to heat milk can only be used for hot milk and not for meat).

Note that Passover has its own unqiue kosher laws. Anything leavened (hametz) must be avoided during this holiday. Many Ashkenazi Jews make it a point to avoid kitniyot foods too, or “foods that swell in the cooking process resembling the way that fermented grains rise”, as per MyJewishLearning.com. Leavened foods are those made from wheat, spelt, rye, oat, and barley, while kitniyot foods consist of legumes, corn, rice, millet, and sesame seeds.

Body systems supported by the kosher diet

As was mentioned earlier, the kosher diet is not known for being nutritionally robust. Though people with food allergies can readily consume kosher foods knowing that their skin, gastrointestinal tract, or respiratory system will start showing the signs of an allergic reaction.

Summary

The kosher diet is a diet based on Jewish religion dietary laws. Those who practice it are forbidden from eating certain foods (namely, pork, rabbits, shellfish, and insects), and must consume foods that undergo rigid processes and inspections (such as the shechita). As a whole, the kosher diet doesn’t have a wide scope of nutritional advantages, though kosher foods are safer and can be very beneficial for some people, specifically vegans and those with food intolerances or allergies.